Fusion—The Energy of the Universe

In contrast to the current nuclear fission plants that produce energy through the splitting of heavy atoms, the possibilities of nuclear fusion energy produced through the fusion of lighter atoms into heavier atoms promises an environmentally clean and virtually unlimited source of energy, if it can overcome the technological challenge of containing the extremely high temperatures required for the fusion of atoms. This work reviews the science of nuclear fusion from the development of the basic scientific ideas concerning the role of fusion in the Sun and other stars to the current progress towards achieving human-controlled fusion energy, covering both the magnetic confinement approach towards insulating hot nuclear fuel with magnetic fields and the newer inertial confinement approach that seeks to capture the fusion energy before the hot fuel has had a chance to expand. This edition has been updated to take account of recent developments in both approaches and includes new chapters on the design and building of the international magnetic fusion project ITER in southern France and on the development of large lasers for possible inertial confinement systems. Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)